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Grand Prix of London 1959

(From the DLN May 1959)

You have seen on the front page the Continentals that will be riding. Now
some news about the meeting, the main event of course will be the Grand
Prix Sprint, and matched against Giardoni and De Graaf will be Karl Barton
the holder of the title, Lloyd Binch our National Sprint Champion, Hector
McKenzie, Scottish Champion and National Sprint Champion Don Skene, John
Hall the Australian Olympic hope plus 17 of our own top sprinters.

There will be a 9 lap individual pursuit involving Simomigh, Buis (who has
beaten Sirriomigh once this year) and our hopes, now that Sheil has retired
from pursuiting will be John Geddes who is really on form, and Billy Holmes.

I anticipate a real ding dong battle, and this could be the highlight of the
meeting.

Another type of pursuiting that has become very popular is the roadman’s
pursuit, which is run over 10 minutes with eight riders competing. Again we
should have a very exiting race here because I have got together one of the
best fields I could possibly find, the eight riders I have Ron Jowers and Ray
Huchins; I have seen these two go right through a field. The other 6 riders
are Dan Hughes, of Wales, Bernard Pusey, and Ken Mitchel independents, Ron
Finch, Alan Sturgess, and our own Alan Rowe, who I am confident, will put up
a great show.

The Fourth Invitation event will be a 70 lap Madison, and I am sticking my
neck out when I say that I think I have got together the finest field seen since
the days of Rickets and Butler and Co. The main teams consist of Sheil-
Thompson, - Geddes, Maclean- Laughton, Armstrong- Buchan, Gambrill-
Grieves, Bowes- Pusey. Mitchel- Ralph Holmes our own pair Brian Dacey and
Dennis Tarrl and of course the two Continental teams two Australian teams
and an R.A.F. team. I think you will agree that we should see some fine racing.

Apart from the Invitation events we have a 440 yrds handicap 3 mile course
de primes, a ladies sprint and 3 mile point to point and a record attempt.

HARRY THOMAS

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